The term 'metaverse' is quickly becoming the talk of the town, but what does it mean for businesses?
Well if you take Apple's CEO Tim Cook at his word then companies better brace themselves: "Life without AR will soon be unthinkable." What exactly *is* a metaverse though? In basic terms, its essentially an upgrade to our current internet – transforming into a 3D virtual world where different sites are all connected as one. Think more along the lines of modern-day immersive gaming and less scrolling through text on your phone!
From the days of Adobe Atmosphere to present-day virtual reality experiences, it's clear that people have been dreaming up ways to immerse themselves in interconnected 3D universes for decades. While several gaming companies are claiming their stake on this tech frontier, arguably none embodied the dreamy vision of a metaverse quite like Adobe Atmosphere did - letting folks chat and explore vibrant online worlds many years before its time.
We are rapidly approaching the world of the metaverse and its possibilities.
Technology advancements have enabled us to keep up with an ever-growing need for faster internet connections, huge processing power - not to mention 3D delivery that can actually work on most PCs! And now Microsoft has announced a partnership with Meta, which means we're only getting closer; in fact 50% of Generation Z and millennials expect they'll be working within this new realm over the next couple years. Looks like things ain't slowing down anytime soon!
It seems that Microsoft is looking towards the future, and in turn it could be coming sooner than you may think!
With this incoming metaverse, companies can expect to see quite a few changes within their own organisation. It's time to start thinking about where your advertising opportunities will take place - who knows what new virtual worlds have yet been discovered? Not only do we need look into potential ad-spaces but also potentially building our very own VR sites or showrooms. There’s no mistaking how much power an online presence gives; if the metaverse becomes just as important then there are sure to be many more dynamic possibilities on offer for businesses alike.
Being of service is key
In the social media age, customer service is key. A whopping 79% of consumers expect a response to their online inquiries within 24 hours - and with companies pushing further into virtual reality through the metaverse, businesses must be ready for customers meeting them there too! As VR becomes more popular among mainstream users, it should become part of customer surveys in order to stay ahead of tech trends and meet consumer expectations head-on.
The skills of the future
If you thought learning a new skill could only be done in the physical world, think again! With innovation to the metaverse happening rapidly, it won't be long before those same skills can now safely and efficiently mastered virtually.
From gaining medical knowledge for doctors to forklift driving for operators - immersive training via VR is about to revolutionise how we learn things like never before. So if your employees require any kind of special instruction or refresher courses anytime soon - maybe take advantage of this cutting-edge technology first hand?
Working together can be better
The pandemic pushed us into the virtual world of Teams and Zoom, but now it looks like we're about to take things one step further: introducing avatars for remote team collaboration in a metaverse. Not only could you have meetings from around the globe with just your avatar, Microsoft is already working on enabling 3D recreation before construction and even fine-tuning while inside that space -sounds out of this world!
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Let us work our tech-magic and get the transformation engine running! We'll help you craft a plan that keeps up with today's technology trends, so contact us now for an innovation brainstorming session – 12 months from now, you won't recognise yourself.